Grapple.



Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

VITA/56.555

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0. WASHINGTON. D. c.

0. CROSBY, H. LE R. BRINK & E. A. WILHELM. GRAPPLE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.20, 1911. 1 093,833. Patented Apr. 21, 19M

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'll 'IIIIIIIIITIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 0. CROSBY, H. LE R. BRINK & E. A. WILHELM.

GRAPPLE.

rum-non FILED 00120, 1911.

' Patented Apr. 21, 19M

IEHIiIE Mum 5.5.5 E5 W.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON. D. c.

part sra rns PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER CROSBY, HARRY LE ROY BRINK, AND EDKVARD A. \VILHELM, OF ST. PAUL,

IVIINNESOTA, ASSIGNORS T AMERICAN I-IOIST & DERRICK (70., OF ST. PAUL, MIN- NESOTA, A CORPORATION.

GRAPPLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OLIvnn CROSBY, HARRY Ln ROY Bnnvn, and EDWARD A. VVIL- HELM, of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapples, of which-the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to single line grap ples adapted for various purposes, but designed particularly for handling sugar cane, the object being to provide an apparatus capable of picking up a large quantity of cane and depositing it upon a car or removing it from the car or other receptacle.

A further object is to provide a grapple of large capacity and one which can be quickly and easily handled.

Our invention consists generally in means for taking up the shock when the grapple opens.

Further, the invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a detail view, partially in section, showing a portion of the apparatus ready to pick up the load, Fig. 2 is an end view, showing the grapple in its closed position, Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the upper portion of the grapple, Fig. i is an end View, showing the grapple just after it has discharged its load, Fig. 5 is a side view of the same, Fig. 6 is a detail view of the locking and tripping mechanism of the grapple, Fig. 7 is a detail, sectional view of the same.

In the drawings, 2 represents a shaft and 8 and 4 the oppositely arranged curved pick up fingers of the grapple. These fingers have hubs 5 journaled on the shaft 2 and there are preferably four of the fingers on each side of the shaft, though a greater or less number may be employed if preferred. Each finger is provided with a clevis 6 to which links '7 and 8 are connected, said links being preferably arranged in pairs, as

shown, two on each side of the grapple and pivotally supported at 9 on the cross head 10. The fingers are connected with one an- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 20, 1911.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914:.

Serial No. 655,781.

other on the same side of the shaft 2 by rods 11 and similar rods 12 connect the links 7 and 8, suitable spacing tubes 13 being mounted on these rods or fingers and the rods are thereby held inproper relation with respect to one another and the grapple braced and strengthened against twisting or lateral movement. The middle portion of the shaft 2 is provided with a hub 14 and parallel rods 15 extend vertically from said hub and project through a box 16 in the cross head and have heads 17 which rest upon plates 18 on the top of the cross head. Coiled springs 19 are provided in the box 16 inclosing the rods and flanged sleeves 20 are slidable on said rods and have flanges 21 at their upper ends within the box 16 forming seats for the lower ends of the springs 19. These flanges rest upon plates 22 on the underside of the cross head.

A pulley block 23 is mounted to slide vertically on the rods 15 and is provided with a pulley 24 around which a cable 25 passes, one end of said cable being attached to the cross head and the other bearing on a guide pulley 26 and having a loop 27 for connection with a derrick or crane. The springs 19 form buffers or cushions for the pulley block 23 when it contacts with the sleeve 20, either when the pulley block is drawn up against the sleeve or when, in opening the grapple, the cross head is allowed todrop suddenly to lower the shaft 2 and open the fingers. In the latter case the sleeves 20 will contact with the pulley block and the springs will take up the force of the blow. The fingers are preferably composed of tubing and have inner ends adapted to receive studs projecting from the hubs 5, and secured thereto by suitable means, such as bolts 5. The outer ends of the fingers are drawn to a tapered. form. We also provide cylinders 28 arranged vertically at the ends of the cross head and having pistons 29 therein connected with the shaft 2 by rods 80. These pistons have relief ports 31 at their upper ends and small air outlet passages 32 at their lower ends which allowthe air to flow into the cylinders beneath the pistons and :form cushions for the pistons when they descend in opening the grapple, the degree of resistance of the air cushions depending upon the size of the port or passage 32 through which the air escapes on thedown stroke of the pistons. The cross sectional area of these ports may be varied until the desired cushioning effect is obtained.

As shown in Figs, 2, 3 and 4, the cylinders are located in the plane of the cross head and the shaft, or centrally with respect to the shaft on which the fingers are mounted. This causes a direct and equal pull on the shaft and more evenly distributes the strain in the operation of opening and closing the grapple.

Mounted upon the lower endsof the rods 15 is a locking yoke 33 having a hooked end 3st provided with a beveled face 35. A pin 36 is mounted in the pulley block 23 in position to be engaged'by the hook 34 to lock the pulley block and the rods 15 together, the hook being held in its locking position by the tension of a spring 37. The hook is normally in the path of the descending pin 36 on the pulley block, being limited in its movement toward the left by a stop 38. A trip lever 39 is carried by the yoke 33 and has a beveled end adapted to engage the pin 36. A trip cord 40 is attached to the trip lever and when this cord is pulled the engagement of the trip lever with the pin 36 will pull the locking yoke out of engagement with the pin, as shown clearly in Fig. 7, and release the pulley block. \Vhen this has been done the shaft 2 and the heavier middle portion of the grapple will drop suddenly, swinging the fingers apart and dumping the load. If power is applied to the cable 25 when the pulley block is looked, as shown in Fig. 1, then assuming that the points of the fingers rest upon the load, it is evident that the shaft 2 will be raised and the fingers will be swung together to close the grapple upon the load, as indicated in Fig. 2.

In various ways the details of construction herein shown may be modified without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim as our invention 1. A grappling device comprising a cross head, a shaft, grappling fingers journaled on said shaft, links connecting said cross head and said fingers, a cable having a running connection with said cross head and with said shaft, cylinders having their middle portions mounted on the ends of said cross head and plungers slidable in said cylinders and having connecting rods attached to said shaft, said plungers and cylinders operating as cushions to relieve the shock when said shaft is droppedto open the grapple.

2. A grappling apparatus comprising a cross head, a shaft, grappling fingers journaled on said shaft, links connecting said cross head and said fingers, rods mounted on said shaft and slidable in hearings in said cross head, a pulley block slidable on said rods, means for temporarily locking said shaft and pulley block together, cushioned sleeves carried by said rods in the path of said block, a cable having a running connection with said cross head and with said pulley block.

3. A grapple comprising a cross head, a shaft, grappling fingers journaled on said shaft, links connecting said cross head and said fingers, rods mounted on said shaft and slidable in hearings in said cross head, springs inclosing said rods within said cross head, sleeves slidable on said rods and having flanges forming seats for said springs, a pulley block slidable on said rods, means for temporarily locking said pulley block 'and said shaft together, said pulley block contacting with said sleeves and being cushioned by said springs, and a cable having a running connection with said cross head and with said pulley block.

4. A grapple comprising an elongated cross head, a cylinder mounted on each end of said cross head, pistons and connecting rods for said cylinders, said cylinders being provided with exhaust ports, a. shaft whereto said connecting rods are attached, 9

grappling fingers mounted on said shaft, rods mounted on said shaft near the middle portion thereof and sliding in bearlngs in said cross head, a sheave block slidable on ,said rods, means for locking said block to said shaft, links pivotally connecting said cross head with said fingers and a cable having a running connection with said cross head and with said sheave block.

5. In a grapple, a shaft, curved fingers mounted thereon, fcrgings secured to the middle portions of said fingers and having comparatively long bearings thereon, and rods passing through said forgings parallel with said shaft and operating to hold said forgings in alinement with one another.

6. A grapple comprising a cross head, a shaft, grappling fingers journaled on said shaft, links connecting said cross head with said fingers, parallel rods mounted on said shaft, boxes provided on opposite sides of the middle portion of said cross head and having bearings wherein said rods are slidable, springs mounted on said rods within said boxes, a pulley block slidable on said rods, means in the path of said pulley block to be engaged thereby for putting said springs under tension, a cable having a running connection with said pulley block, and means for temporarily locking said pulley block and shaft together.

7. In a grapple, the combination, with a shaft, of hubs journaled in pairs thereon and having outwardly projecting studs, curved grappling fingers composed of tubing having inner ends adapted to receive said studs, and bolts securing said fingers and studs together.

8. In a grapple, a shaft, curved grappling fingers mounted thereon, forgings having bearings on said fingers near the middle portions thereof and operating to reinforce and strengthen them at the curved portions thereof, links pivotally connected with said forgings, rods passing through said forgings and through the ends of said links near said forgings, parallel with said shaft, and operating to hold said forgings and fingers in alineinent with one another.

9. A grapple comprising an elongated cross head, a shaft parallel therewith, grappling fingers journaled on said shaft, links pivotally connecting said cross head with said fingers, cylinders secured in parallel relation to the ends of said cross head and projecting above and below the same, plungers for said cylinders having connecting rods secured at their lower ends to said shaft, said cylinders and plungers operating to cushion said shaft and fingers when they are dropped to open the grapple, and a cable having a running connection with said shaft.

10. A grapple comprising a cross head, a shaft parallel therewith, fingers journaled on said shaft, links pivotally connecting said cross head with said fingers, a cable having a running connection with said cross head and with said shaft, cylinders having their middle portions rigidly secured to the ends of said cross head upon each side of said cable, plungers for said cylinders having their rods rigidly connected to said shaft on each side of the connection of said cable with said shaft, said cylinders and plungers operating to cushion said shaft and fingers when they are dropped to open the grapple.

11. A grapple comprising an elongated cross head, a shaft parallel therewith, curved grappling fingers journaled on said shaft and arranged in pairs thereon, there being two pairs of fingers on each side of the middle portion of said shaft, links pivot-- ally connected with said cross head on each side of the middle portion thereof, and with fingers on said shaft, rods mounted on the middle portions of said shaft and slidable in said cross head, a sheave block slidable on said rods and having means for locking it to said shaft, a cable having a running connection with said cross head and with said sheave block, and a cylinder mounted on each end of said cross head and having a piston therein and a rod connecting it with said shaft.

12. A grappling device comprising an elongated cross head, a shaft parallel therewith, curved grappling fingers journaled on said shaft and arranged in pairs thereon, there being two pairs of fingers on each side of the middle portion. of said shaft, links pivotally connected with said cross head on each side of the middle portion thereof and with the opposite fingers on said shaft, rods mounted on the middle portion of said shaft and slidable in said cross head, a sheave block slidable on said rods and having means for looking it to said shaft, and a cable having a running connection with said cross head and with said sheave block.

13. A grapple comprising a cross head, a shaft, grappling fingers journaled on said shaft, links connecting said cross head with said fingers, parallel rods mounted on said shaft, boxes carried by said cross head and having bearings wherein said rods are slid able, a cushioning means arranged within said boxes, a pulley block slidable on said rods, means in the path of said pulley block on its up-stroke for engaging and compressing said cushioning means, and a cable having a running connection with said pulley block.

14. A grapple comprising a cross head, a shaft, grappling fingers journaled on said shaft, links pivotally connecting said cross head with said fingers, boxes mounted on said cross head, a pair of rods mounted at their lower ends on said shaft, the upper ends of said rods projecting through said boxes and slidable therein, a pulley block mounted to slide on said rods and having means for temporarily locking it to said shaft, a cable having a running connection with said cross head and with said pulley block, means slidable on said rods in the path of said block during its upward movement, and means yieldingly resisting the impact of said block against said sliding means.

15. In a grapple, the combination, with a cross head, of a shaft, grappling fingers mounted in pairs upon said shaft, there being a pair of fingers at each end of said shaft and a pair upon each side of and near the middle portion of said shaft, a pair of links pivotally connected at one end to said cross head upon each side of the middle portion thereof, each link having a pair of arms, the inner arms of each pair of links being pivotally connected respectively with the opposite grappling fingers near'the middle portion of said shaft, and the outer arms of said links being connected respectively with the opposite grappling fingers at the ends of said shaft.

16. A grapple comprising an elongated cross head, a shaft parallel therewith, grappling fingers mounted in pairs on said shaft, rods centrally mounted on said shaft and having their upper ends slidable in bearings in said cross head, cylinders mounted on the ends of said cross head and pistons for said cylinders having connecting rods attached to said shaft, equi-distant, substantially, from said rods, links pivotally con- In Witness whereof, we have hereunto set 10 nected with said cross head at a point interour hands this 13th day of October, 191]. mediate to said Cylinders and the bearings e T for said rods and connected to said fingers, BllNK a pulley block slidable on said rods and havbfi A A x H ing means for temporarily connecting it to J J said shaft, and a cable having a running Vit-nesses:

connection With said cross head and With C. B. MORAN, said pulley block. C. H. SOHLEMMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

